We are all a product of our past generations and without knowing who they were, how can we truly know who we are? If you want to get to know yourself better, contact me to get started! In this blog, you can find tips on doing genealogy research along with stories of drama, mystery, and intrigue (oh and humor too). So, get some popcorn, your favorite drink and settle in while we take a path of discovery. Consider yourself a detective trying to solve the age old question - WHO AM I?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Sanders Family History Trip - 2008 - Day 5

Morning was early and we moseyed over to the hotel feeding center... they had rolls, juices, coffee, fruits and cereal. Mom, Dad and Brian ate their fill and then Dad and Brian left to the court house. Mom was going to stay back and hold down the fort. We would connect back up later...

We get to the court house all ready to go when we found we were early by about 30 minutes. So, instead of hanging out, we got back into the car and drove back to a cemetery we saw along the route, known as Pioneer Cemetery. We both looked around and found nothing of any family connection, but since it was a nice cool morning and an open field with grass, it was a nice walk. As 9:00 am approached, we got back into the car and drove back to the court house. Here we were told to go back to the big building across the street which housed all the records (and the parking lot we were already at previously).

So began the long journey into the records of Adams county. About 3 hours into the research, much was being discovered... maps, plat maps, deeds, and more. Lunch time came and dad went on to meet mom. Brian requested to bring back some food and was delighted to get one of his favorites - Subway submarine sandwich. Of course, since this was a record room, and they were making us wear white gloves (which is normal and good), Brian was very careful and particular about eating and leaving NO traces. Another good thing about the court house was the fact that they had instituted some laminating of the papers AND did not allow a flash to be used. Fortunately, Brian's camera was able to use the ambient light to take great shots! 2 images were taken of every record, just to be sure they were legible.

Another 2 more hours after "lunch" and it was time to call it a day in the "court". A lot of data was uncovered on the WEBER, FABER, and FOY family records. Much more can (and will hopefully some day) be discovered. It was very exciting to finally match some real 1st source records to the family great grandparents.

Now as an added bonus, we were heading over to meet a "cousin" on the Konen side. We stopped in to visit Norma Konen, whom Brian had contacted prior to the trip to meet. This was the best time for her as she worked in the mornings and we were very happy to see her. We also had the pleasure of staying and looking at some of her pictures from the Konen/Weber AND Foy side - many we had never seen before. The stay was too short and we wished Norma well before we moved onto the next stop. It is certain that the next trip to Hastings will be one in which we spend a lunch or dinner with Norma and other family members.

We headed southwest to Assumption and Roseland to look at the Weber/Foy past home locations. Grandpa John and Grandma Anna Weber had secured a homestead, which we now knew from the county records earlier that day, and had also lived in a small home in Assumption, at which point we were able to identify exactly, according to the legal description. Accompanying us were also many pictures that we were able to match up to the old home. As was becoming the rule, it seemed that any home in the past 90 years that had an open patio, it was soon boarded up for additional living (inside) space. So, although it was not the exact replica as the pictures of old, it was VERY easy to tell it was the original home.

It was also great to see where Grandpa Edgar and Grandma Jenny Foy had lived for a short time in Roseland, which was where Aunt Verona and Pauline were raised for a short time. This is also the place where Grandpa Foy owned a bar and later had to give it up after getting Typhoid fever. It was these events in 1907 that eventually led them to depart Nebraska heading west to Colorado, where they would make their homestead on 160 acres.

As it was getting late, we decided to eat in Roseland at the Reggie Betty Bar G. Good food and a few beers later, we headed out to the next stop, further south and east of Roseland. We knew that the Foy's lived in the Eversman home for a short time, but were not certain where this was located (if it was in Roseland or elsewhere). Using the plat map which showed the Eversman homestead, we headed out there and found a home to take pictures of.. not certain this was the exact home, but it is likely the property that was connected to the same family the Foy's leased from.

From here we went onward to the Charles and Adelia Foy homestead, located in Little Blue township, Adams County. A remarkable site and with the records from the court house, it was helpful to know the exact boundaries and time line for when they lived here. It was also here that Adelia died in childbirth on 18 Aug 1890. One key mission of this trip was to locate where she was buried. Up until now, the exact location of the homestead was not certain as there is Blue Hill and a Little Blue, which has been interchanged several times before in the family records to which it is unclear which belonged to what. So, Brian knew that the cemetery could be located within a narrow radius of this homestead, which eliminated many of the cemetery candidates.

As the day was growing late, we headed to the closest cemetery, and then the next and finally to the last one, located in Blue Hill. Here is where we found Adelia Arnold Foy and her parents and other kin, laid to rest. There is a longer story about this amazing find located within this blog, if you would like to read about it... Adelia Foy Short Story.

As the night was fast approaching, we headed back to the Comfort Inn in Hastings and the closure to a spectacular day of research and discovery. It would be difficult to surpass the magnitude of the key finds of this day, but that would soon be determined. To bed we went...

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Who Am I?

My name is Brian Sanders. I've been doing genealogy work since 1975, when I was 10 years old (you're never too young to start researching your ancestors). My ancestral roots are German, Irish, and English. My family were pioneers who settled much of the early territories / states, from Vermont, New York, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska and Colorado. I can trace directly to ancestors on the Mayflower, veterans of American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and American Civil War.

I also have 27+ years in the Computer, Semiconductor and Technology industry as an Engineer. I serve on the board of directors for the Arizona Education Scholarship Foundation and have a partnership in a software start-up company. I follow politics, enjoy outdoors, and am working on a book about the Sanders Family early settlers.

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